Barbara Jordan : American hero / Mary Beth Rogers

Includes bibliographical references and index.

An American hero. Nothing less can be said of Barbara Jordan. One of the most influential women of the 20th century, she held an unwavering faith in the American people and heralded patriotism, justice, and compassion. With exclusive cooperation from the Jordan estate, Mary Beth Rogers gives us an intimate look at the woman born in poverty in Houston's Fifth Ward, who went on to become a savvy politician and dynamic leader, exemplifying courage, honor and dignity. Refusing to be "an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction of the Constitution", Barbara stirred the nation with her forceful and eloquent oratory during the Watergate hearings, yet in 1977 decided not to seek reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives, turning instead to a life of teaching amid rumors of a serious illness. A true woman of heroic proportions, Barbara Jordan spent her entire life shaping the way people think. With her powerful convictions and her flair for oratorical drama, Barbara Jordan helped change the landscape of America's 20th century. Her patriotism, her fire and her perseverance have touched us all. Through this book, her life and the footsteps she left will be reintroduced to a country that is inarguably better for her presence. Mary Beth Rogers taught American Politics with Barbara Jordan at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas.

English